According to Operation Bear Claw, the bear that damaged a luxury car in California had turned into a human in a costume.
California Department of Insurance authorities have detained four Los Angeles residents in connection with an insurance fraud scheme. press release said.
Authorities charged Ruben Tamrazian, 26, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, Vahe Muradkanyan, 32, and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, with insurance fraud and conspiracy. (Related: Video shows bear nibbling on gumbo before lunging at concession worker)
The ministry launched an investigation into the alleged bear attack after the insurance company suspected fraud.
According to a press release, the owners of a Rolls-Royce told their insurance company that it was attacked by a bear in Lake Arrowhead, causing damage to the car's interior. they even had video footage to support their claims.
In the video, a furry animal can be seen walking around the car, but investigators say it was actually an individual wearing a bear costume.
The investigation also uncovered two additional claims to two separate insurance companies on the same date and location, according to the press release. Each complaint involves a separate Mercedes vehicle, and the suspects allegedly used bear costumes to damage the vehicles. A video was also provided of these claims.
Officials said biologists with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife reviewed videos of all three incidents and concluded it was a person wearing a bear costume.
Detectives executed a search warrant at the suspect's residence and allegedly found a bear costume.
“Operation Bear Claw revealed that suspects were allegedly wearing bear costumes to commit insurance fraud,” the California Department of Insurance said in a post. The post included a photo of what appeared to be a bear costume. (Related article: Two former NBA stars found guilty in massive multi-million dollar fraud scheme)
Four people have been arrested after filming a fake video of a bear attacking a bear for insurance money.
Operation Bear Claw revealed that the suspect was wearing a bear costume to commit insurance fraud. pic.twitter.com/9mzfvaq2B3
— California Department of Insurance (@CDInews) November 13, 2024
The suspects allegedly defrauded the insurance company out of $141,839. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office is overseeing the prosecution.
